The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-12-24

world, or even to our friends Never let
any one know; especially Earnest and
Lila"
"Richard, depend upon it, Earnest knows;
and that is one reason why blame him. "
'He may guess, but if we never speak
of it he will nos know; and want to take
from him the knowledge of his victory over
me. Please spare me this humiliation" !"
Richard, Lila would mary you to-mor-
row if l said SO; she is German-bred, you
know, and would not think of opposing my
will.
"Dear aunt, could 1 ever be happy with
wife SO won? Could / marry woman
who loved another man better than she
loved me ?"
''But you would soon win her love; there
is no fear of that"
'I would not risk it. When you said
you had brought her for me, l at once
thought it would be the very thing if she
and Earnest would marry and leave you
and me to live our quiet lives together.
begin to think it is true that we get what
We wish in this life; only we make foolish
wishes, and then spend our lives regretting
we were FOOLS It may be best for me not
TO marry; shall you be sorry to keep me
with you always, Aunt Helen?"
She kissed me and l went out; could
not look upon their happiness yet Aunt
Helen was very much astonished when
they broke the news of their engagement
to her, and said she did not believe Lila
knew whether it was Earnest or Richard.
She would give her consent, certainly, but
they must wait a few months to make sure
they loved each other. This strategy upon
her part came to naught, for when Earnest
came to speak to me next day | guessed his
errand, and before he told me the news, l
met him with the announcement that it
was absolutely necessary for me to go West
upon business for a few months, and was
so full of It and intent upon making pre-
parations for it that it gave his engagement
the appearance of being minor matter and
this was the one little crumb of comfort in
the whole thing, to me.
l do not know, but think the man does
not live who can regard with tender feel
ings the man who has taken from him the
only woman be ever cared for, However
this may be, 1t is certain there has been
lack of warmth or heartiness in my love
for my brother since then. l do no blame
him for what he did; instead, L blame my
self for the feeling, or want of it, but |
have not yet overcome it.
They were married the following autumn,
and befnre the yeas brought Christmas
round, were In cosey home Of their own,
and Aunt Helen and | lived as | had,
planned, 10 quiet, if not at peace. Why
should not be happy2 Everything had
gone well with me except that my brother
had married the woman | loved, and my
unthankful heart walled constantly, though
in secret, because my love had come to
naught.
Perhaps it was in punishment for this
that Lost Aunt Helen, too, For the
fright one" came back after so many years,
and my aunt married him, and they went
to live three thousand miles away. But |
am engrossed with business plans and bust
ness details, and when some saucy girl, too
good, by far, for me, asks me why it is the
men do not marry like they used to do, 1
laugh it off, and never speak of the face
that comes between me and all other women,
however fair-a round face with soft, pink,
bahyish cheeks, and red mouth that once
or twice kissed as brother might; but
which | have not kissed in years, and shall
not ever kiss again.
Tomorrow will be Christmas. All the
children l know are happy; my friends
smile in passing, and wish me all the bless
ings we are wont to shower upon each other
at this merriest season Of the year. |
smile, too; but there is blight over my
Christmas days that time has not yet dis
PEELED, and never give or receive Christ
mas gift or token, without thinking with
regret cannot drown, of the Christmas
gift Aunt Helen brought me, that was
never for one moment mine.